The Sprout: U.S. meat sector set to consolidate further

Something to aim for if you’re planning a fishing trip this weekend. A nine-year old New Jersey boy reeled in a giant white sturgeon earlier this week. As CBC news explains, the fish measured three metres long and weighed more than 270 kilograms.

JBS SA, the world’s largest meat packer has announced it is buying American meat giant Cargill’s pork processing side for $1.45 billion. If approved, the deal would make JBS one of the biggest and most powerful companies in the United States.

As Reuters explains, the bid by the company’s JBS USA subsidiary comes just over a week after Brazil-based JBS said it would buy Moy Park Ltd, the British unit of rival Marfrig Global Foods SA and marks the latest sign of consolidation in the U.S. protein sector.

In Canada

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Loblaws grocery story are recalling several frozen, breaded chicken products made by Sofina Foods Inc. that have been linked to an outbreak of salmonella. The Cape Breton Post has the story.

The latest forecast maps from the U.S. Weather Service show little relief from drought conditions on the Canadian Prairies. As The Western Producer reports the extended forecast holds little hope for significant amounts of rain for the dry regions of the prairies, although Manitoba is expected to get some notable rainfall.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture says it will not be joining a Grain Farmers of Ontario lawsuit over new neonicotinoid regulations. The organization’s president said, Tuesday, the OFA will wait to make its next move until the court decision is released, a ruling that is expected sometime later this summer.

Internationally

ConAgra Foods, the maker of Slim Jim beef jerky and Chef Boyardee pasta, says it plans to exit its struggling private label foods business as it seeks to boost profit margins and focus on its faster-growing consumer foods segment. Reuters has the story.

A new joint report from the OECD and the United Nations Agriculture Organization says livestock feed will drive the growth in the grain and cereals sectors as human consumption and biofuels demand tapers off. The Financial Times has the details.

American grain farm leaders headed to Cuba last week to determine what marketing, financial and educational barriers exist if U.S. producers want to increase grain sales to the island nation. As Farm Futures reports, the visit came just days before U.S. President Barack Obama announced the American embassy in Cuba will reopen.

The Indian government is planning on spending $8 billion on irrigation infrastructure in an effort to reduce that country’s dependence on monsoons. As Reuters reports, the government said it also plans to develop an online agricultural market designed to help farmers get better prices for their produce.

Noteworthy

In honour of Canada’s 148th birthday, Farms.com pulled together some fun and interesting facts about Canadian agriculture.

And, if you’re looking for the recipe for this year’s Canada Day Chicken Sandwich – or you missed it because of the torrential downpour that drenched more than a few Canada Day revelers – it can be found here. (Fun fact: more than 9,000 chicken breasts were cooked up yesterday for the annual Chicken Farmers of Canada event.)

The Kicker

In today’s adorable animal video: a family of ducklings that had become the talk of the town in Prince Edward Island managed to make it to safety earlier this week thanks to a police escort. As CBC News explains, the little ones had some trouble navigating a curb in the Atlantic Superstore parking lot, but eventually everyone successfully made it up and across.